I am honoured to be
here to read the statement of my President, His
Excellency Hâmid Karzai, who had to return from New
York to Kabul on an urgent basis, following the tragic
assassination, through a terrorist plot, of Afghanistan’s
former President and Chairman of the High Peace
Council, Mr. Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The President’s message begins:
“It is a great honour to address the General
Assembly at this year’s session, although I regret
that I am unable to do so in person. I was here in
New York the day before yesterday and had
looked forward to attending this important
session of the Assembly. I had to return to Kabul
after the tragic news of the martyrdom of former
President and Chairman of the Afghan High
Peace Council, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani.
He was assassinated in a cowardly terrorist plot
by the enemies of peace in our country.
“As I speak, the Afghan nation is mourning
the loss not only of a valued and deeply respected
national figure, but a champion of peace who
worked tirelessly, up to the last moment of his
distinguished life, for peace in his country. On
behalf of the Afghan people, I am grateful for the
messages of condolences expressed by leaders
around the world at this terrible national loss in
Afghanistan.
“As the single largest gathering of nations,
the Assembly is the highest manifestation of the
plurality of our world. It is also the most solemn
opportunity we have, once a year, to bring to
global attention our national concerns and to
issues that are, in our view, of concern to the
wider world.
“Over the past year, the world saw not only
political volatility of historic proportions in the
Middle East, but also an unabated global
economic crisis, huge increases in the prices of
food and energy and enormous devastation
wrought by natural disasters. Most countries
around the world have seen aggravated conditions
of life for their peoples, and for many others the
future looks continuously bleak. In short, we live
in times of uncertainty and crisis, and it is at
times like these that international cooperation
gains true relevance and meaning.
“Ten days ago, this very city marked the
tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On
behalf of the people of Afghanistan, who have
experienced the scourge of terrorism in its worst
imaginable form, I pay homage and respect to the
memory of the 9/11 tragedy and commiserate
with the people of the United States for their
sense of loss, which this anniversary has
rekindled.
“On this occasion, I urge the Assembly to
also reflect on the millions of lives around the
world that were touched by terror and violence
before 9/11 and those that have been lost to
terrorist violence over the 10 years since.
“My country, Afghanistan, has suffered the
most, but many — from Pakistan to India, Iraq,
Europe and many others around the world —
have fallen victim to this modern-day enemy of
peace. I urge the Assembly to also honour the
sacrifices many nations have made in the fight
against terrorism around the world. Above all,
however, I ask that we pause and take stock of
where we are 10 years after the world was shaken
into an unprecedented resolve to act in the face of
a common enemy.
“Later this year, Afghanistan will also mark
the anniversary of 10 years of the new political
era heralded by the end of the Taliban rule and
characterized by the beginning of a journey
towards a peaceful, prosperous and democratic
way of life. There is so much that we have to
celebrate in the enormous achievements we have
had, with the solidarity and generous help of the
international community. These 10 years have
been a truly unique chapter in the history of our
ancient country.
“Grasping the opportunity, we took bold
steps to reunite the country after decades of strife
and violence, laying the foundations of a young
democracy. Our social and economic
accomplishments are phenomenal, greater by
comparison than in any other period in our
country’s history. Never before have the Afghan
people enjoyed comparable access to education
and health or seen a greater development of
infrastructure across the country.
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“Regrettably, the sense of gratitude and
pride we feel at our achievements is tempered by
the absence of a key ingredient of any country’s
development, namely security. Despite the
Afghan people’s sincere embrace of the
international fight against terrorism and the
immeasurable sacrifices made on this path, we
have yet to reap the rewards of experiencing a life
free from violence and terror.
“We Afghans are proud to have partnered,
over the past 10 years, with the world’s struggle
against terrorism. While together we have fought
and crushed extremists in some of their long-held
strongholds, elsewhere they have continued to
thrive. Today, we see a worrying trend towards
increased radicalization of the youth. Al-Qaida,
despite the elimination of its leaders, remains
active in the region, and the Taliban militancy
maintains its deadly spectre over my country.
Both continue to receive sanctuary and support in
the region, which keeps them alive. This
sanctuary problem is, without a doubt, the
Achilles’ heel of this war.
“To the extent that international terrorism
and extremism remain real threats to international
security, peace will remain mortgaged to the
success of the fight in the region. To succeed,
however, we must fundamentally review and
adjust our approaches in this fight. It is urgent
that we focus our strategy to make our collective
struggle more objective and results-oriented. Our
enemy must not be defined by a selective
treatment of the geography to which we have
access, but by an assessment of the threat it
poses, regardless of where it may be based.
“The Afghan people remain ardent
supporters of the fight against international
terrorism, despite having suffered unspeakable
losses in this endeavour. However, we fail to see
the efficacy of the fight in which ordinary
citizens bear the brunt while terrorist sanctuaries
remain untouched, far away from the towns and
villages of Afghanistan. The continued credibility
of the fight will depend above all on taking its
focus to where terrorism originates.
“On the other hand, when it comes to the
Taliban insurgency, we do not see military action
as the only solution. In our eager quest for
restoring peace to the lives of our people, we
have extended a hand of peace and reconciliation
to all those Afghans who have had reason to
remain outside the boundaries of the current
political process in Afghanistan.
“Led until now by the late Mr. Rabbani,
who is tragically no longer among us, through the
High Peace Council, and supported by our
partners from the international community, the
peace process is a comprehensive effort. It covers
the reintegration of armed combatants into
dignified civilian life and reconciles the
leadership of the Taliban.
“The reconciliation policy is based on our
commitment to make the political process more
inclusive and to provide a genuine and acceptable
alternative to violence for all Taliban and other
militant leaders, most of whom are currently
based outside Afghanistan. Those leaders are
welcome to return home and play their proper
role in Afghan politics and Government —
provided that they break ties with Al-Qaida, give
up violent activities and accept the Afghan
Constitution. Clearly, without sincere cooperation
from regional and international partners, notably
the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, this strategy
will not succeed.
“The year 2011 is a crucial year for
Afghanistan. The most important development for
our country was the commencement of the
transition process last July. This process will see
the complete transfer of security responsibility
from international forces to Afghans by the end of
2014. With the completion of the transition
process, we Afghans and our international
partners will achieve the most important strategic
goal of our 10-year partnership: the emergence of
a sovereign Afghanistan that is self-reliant and is
the peaceful home of all Afghans, an Afghanistan
that is at peace and lives in peace with the rest of
the world.
“Needless to say, the success of the
transition process depends on, besides the
demand and solid resolve of the Afghan people,
the continued support of the international
community. The role of our NATO partners,
particularly in terms of the capacity development
of our security institutions, will be vital.
7 11-51179
“On the other hand, transition is not just
limited to security. Indeed, while transition is
both desirable and inevitable, the economic effect
of the withdrawal of foreign forces from
Afghanistan needs to be managed carefully. In
other words, for Afghanistan to become truly self-
reliant, apart from the security transition, we will
need a comprehensive economic transition. That
transition will take much longer than the security
transition and will require the continuation of
steadfast support on the part of our international
partners beyond 2014.
“In this context, we look forward to the
much awaited International Conference on
Afghanistan, to be held in Bonn, Germany, on
5 December 2011. Hosted by Germany and
chaired by Afghanistan, the Bonn conference will
be an opportunity for us to brief our international
partners about the major Compact accomplishments
of the past 10 years, and in particular about the
progress of the Transition and reconciliation
processes.
“Most importantly, at Bonn we will call for
continued commitment of the international
community to assist Afghanistan in the post-2014
period, after the foreign military presence on
Afghanistan soil comes to an end. To that end, we
will share our vision for the next 10 years — the
vision of developing Afghanistan into a stable
country, a functioning democracy and a
prospering economy. As a country at the centre of
an emerging ‘new silk road’, Afghanistan can
become a regional hub for trade and transit. This
vision is worth all the efforts we Afghans can
muster, as well as all the support we can get from
the international community.
“As a framework for long-term partnership,
we will call for a new paradigm of cooperation
between Afghanistan and our friends and
partners. The strategic partnership that we are
currently negotiating with the United States and
other partners, including the European Union,
will be a model for the kind of enduring and
comprehensive partnership we wish to have with
members of the international community. Such
partnerships will help guarantee Afghanistan’s
security and stability, as well as assist our future
economic development. I emphasize that neither
our strategic partnership with the United States,
nor any other partnerships we will forge in the
future, will be a threat to our neighbours or to any
other country.
“I also emphasize that in the context of
these future partnerships, the principle of Afghan
sovereignty and the centrality of the Afghan State
must be given due credence; the manner of our
continued partnership should conform to the
requirements of a sovereign Afghanistan. As an
important step in this direction, all the parallel
structures created by the international community,
be it in the security, governance or development
arenas, must be removed to make space for the
emergence of genuine and capable indigenous
institutions.
“In particular, the role of the United Nations
in Afghanistan must be adjusted to the
requirements of Afghan sovereignty. I welcome
the review of the mandate of the United Nations
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, as authorized
by the Secretary-General. In the months ahead,
we look forward to participating in this review
and to its positive conclusion.
“On the subject of regional cooperation, we
are currently working closely with Afghanistan’s
old friend and brother, the Republic of Turkey,
towards a regional conference to be held in
Istanbul on 2 November 2011. Hosted by Turkey
and championed by Afghanistan, the Istanbul
Conference will help build a common regional
vision for peace and stability. The Conference
will recognize Afghanistan’s quest for stability, as
well as the region’s growing need for confidence-
building and cooperation in the face of the
common challenges we face, notably terrorism,
extremism, the drug trade and obstacles to
legitimate interaction and movement, to name but
a few.
“Over the past 10 years, we have
undertaken numerous initiatives to promote
regional cooperation, mainly with a view to trade
and economic activities. However, we have
learned that unless we boldly address our political
differences and the deficit of trust and confidence
that divides the region, regional cooperation will
remain an aspiration. It is for that very reason that
at the Istanbul Conference we will aim to focus
on political and security issues.
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“In the coming weeks, we will expect to
consult with all countries in the Heart of Asia
region to develop a common understanding in the
run-up to the Conference.
“In today’s interconnected world,
developments in Afghanistan and the surrounding
region are hugely influenced by events in the
wider world. Therefore, we in Afghanistan are
closely watching the situation in the Middle East.
As a nation that has experienced war and
destruction for many years, the eruption of
violence in these countries fills us with anxiety.
We are particularly concerned by the
developments in Libya. We recognize the
National Transitional Council as the legitimate
Government of Libya. However, based on our
own experience, we urge the brotherly Libyan
nation to recall that the shortest route to peace
will be through ensuring inclusivity and
safeguarding the unity of the Libyan nation.
“The people of Afghanistan deeply
sympathize with the plight of our brothers and
sisters in Palestine. We reiterate our call for an
immediate end to their suffering and the
realization of their inalienable rights, including
the right to an independent State. In this
connection, we stand firmly behind the efforts
aimed at Palestine’s admission as a full Member
of the United Nations. I hope that this year we
will witness, with pride, the inclusion of Palestine
as the 194th Member of the United Nations.
“The Afghan people also shared the pain of
the loss experienced by the Japanese people when
the natural disasters struck earlier this year. Japan
is a longstanding friend of Afghanistan, and we
are confident that this great nation will soon
overcome the challenges of recovery.
“The Assembly is a manifestation of our
collective will to stand together against the
challenges that face human society and to realize
the potential for a peaceful and prosperous world
for all. Our gathering here is also a testimony to
the valuable role that the United Nations plays in
the realization of our collective will. I applaud
the remarkable leadership that Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon has demonstrated in steering the
United Nations in a direction where it can truly
become an asset to a peaceful world.
“Finally, many countries from across the
globe have stood in solidarity, over the past
10 years, with the Afghan people. On behalf of
the people of Afghanistan, I again thank them for
their support.”